By Canadian Press

budget day thursday

Alberta finance minister says first budget to attack spending, not services

Oct 23, 2019 | 12:41 PM

EDMONTON — Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews says the first budget of the new United Conservative government will surgically attack spending but not at the expense of essential services.

Toews says it’s critical to exercise budget restraint to end a recent run of multibillion-dollar deficits within four years, as promised.

But he says it won’t be like the early years of former premier Ralph Klein’s government of the 1990s, which saw cuts up to 20 per cent.

Premier Jason Kenney has said the province is spending way beyond its means and that action must be taken to prevent rising debt payments from crippling future generations.

The Opposition NDP says the budget will see the tax burden shifted to municipalities, with the most vulnerable paying for the budget austerity.

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The NDP says a cut to the corporate tax implemented earlier this year has needlessly worsened the situation, while Kenney says it’s important to attract investment to boost the economy.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2019.

The Canadian Press